CN109465974B

CN109465974B - Cutting tool supply device and cutting tool container

Info

Publication number: CN109465974B
Application number: CN201811019512.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 关家一马
Original assignee: Disco Corp
Current assignee: Disco Corp
Priority date: 2017-09-07
Filing date: 2018-09-03
Publication date: 2022-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 2038-09-03
Also published as: CN109465974A; TW201912295A; US20190070701A1; JP6998159B2; US11148243B2; TWI754090B; JP2019042909A

Abstract

Provided are a cutting tool supply device and a cutting tool container, which can sufficiently store a replaceable cutting tool and appropriately supply the cutting tool to a cutting device. The cutting tool supply device includes: a cutting tool storage box storing a plurality of cutting tools; a conveying unit for conveying the cutting tool out of the cutting tool storage box to the cutting device; a delivery unit that delivers the cutting tool to the tool exchange unit; and a control unit. The cutting tool storage case includes: a cutting tool container for accommodating a cutting tool including a mounting opening formed at the center and mounted on the spindle and a cutting edge formed on the outer periphery of the mounting opening; and a cutting tool container mounting unit on which the cutting tool container is mounted. The cutting tool container comprises: a cylinder that accommodates two or more cutting tools in an overlapping manner; and a rod inserted into the mounting opening to prevent the cutting edge from contacting the inner wall of the cylinder. The control unit appropriately selects the cutting tool required by the cutting device and conveys the cutting tool to the cutting device through the conveying unit.

Description

Cutting tool supply device and cutting tool container

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cutting tool supply device for supplying a cutting tool to a cutting device and a cutting tool container for storing the cutting tool.

Background

A wafer having a plurality of devices such as ICs and LSIs formed on its front surface divided by lines to be divided is divided into individual devices by a cutting device, and the divided devices are used for electronic devices such as mobile phones and personal computers.

In order to enable unmanned operation of the cutting apparatus, the present applicant has developed a cutting apparatus capable of automatically replacing a cutting tool (see, for example, patent document 1).

Patent document 1: japanese patent No. 4837973

However, the cutting device disclosed in patent document 1 has the following problems: the stock of replaceable cutting tools is insufficient, making it difficult to perform unmanned operation for a long time.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a cutting tool supply device capable of adequately storing a replaceable cutting tool and appropriately supplying a cutting tool to a cutting device having a tool replacement unit, and a cutting tool container capable of easily supplementing a cutting tool supply device with a cutting tool.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting tool supply apparatus for supplying a cutting tool to a cutting apparatus, the cutting apparatus including: a holding unit for holding a workpiece; a cutting unit to which a cutting tool for cutting the workpiece held by the holding unit is rotatably attached; a feeding unit that relatively performs machining feed of the holding unit and the cutting unit; and a tool replacing unit for automatically attaching and detaching the cutting tool attached to the cutting unit, wherein the cutting tool supplying apparatus includes: a cutting tool storage box storing a plurality of cutting tools; a conveying unit for conveying the cutting tool out of the cutting tool storage box and conveying the cutting tool to the cutting device; a delivery unit that delivers the cutting tool conveyed by the conveyance unit to the tool replacement unit; and a control unit, the cutting tool storage box comprising: a cutting tool container for accommodating a cutting tool, the cutting tool including a mounting opening formed in a center thereof and attached to the spindle, and a cutting edge formed on an outer periphery of the mounting opening; and a cutting tool container mounting unit on which the cutting tool container is mounted, the cutting tool container including: a cylinder body for housing two or more cutting tools in an overlapping manner; and a rod inserted into the mounting opening to prevent the cutting blade from contacting the inner wall of the cylinder, wherein the control unit properly selects the cutting tool required by the cutting device and conveys the cutting tool to the cutting device through the conveying unit.

Preferably, the conveying unit includes: a carrying-out section for carrying out the cutting tool from the cutting tool storage box; and a conveyor belt that conveys the cutting tool carried out by the carrying-out section to the cutting device. Preferably, the handover unit includes: a carrying-out device for holding and carrying out the cutting tool carried by the carrying unit; and a tool rack that receives the cutting tool carried out by the carrying-out machine and conveys the cutting tool to the tool changer. Preferably, the cutting tool supply apparatus further includes a display unit, and the control unit records the number of cutting tools removed from the cutting tool storage box for each kind of cutting tool, and displays the number of cutting tools that can be further stored in the cutting tool storage box on the display unit for each kind of cutting tool. Preferably, the cutting tool container comprises: a cover wall that detachably closes one end of the cylinder; and an end wall closing the other end of the cylinder, the rod being fixed to a central portion of the end wall.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cutting tool container for accommodating a cutting tool including a mounting opening formed at a center thereof and attached to a spindle, and a cutting edge formed at an outer periphery of the mounting opening, the cutting tool container comprising: a cylinder body for housing two or more cutting tools in an overlapping manner; and a rod inserted into the mounting opening to prevent the cutting edge from contacting the inner wall of the cylinder.

Preferably, the cutting tool container comprises: a cover wall that detachably closes one end of the cylinder; and an end wall closing the other end of the cylinder, the rod being fixed to a central portion of the end wall.

A cutting tool supply device according to an aspect of the present invention is configured to supply a cutting tool to a cutting device, the cutting device including: a holding unit for holding a workpiece; a cutting unit to which a cutting tool for cutting the workpiece held by the holding unit is rotatably attached; a feeding unit that relatively performs machining feed of the holding unit and the cutting unit; and a tool replacing unit for automatically attaching and detaching the cutting tool attached to the cutting unit, wherein the cutting tool supplying apparatus includes: a cutting tool storage box storing a plurality of cutting tools; a conveying unit for conveying the cutting tool out of the cutting tool storage box and conveying the cutting tool to the cutting device; a delivery unit that delivers the cutting tool conveyed by the conveyance unit to the tool replacement unit; and a control unit, the cutting tool storage box comprising: a cutting tool container for accommodating a cutting tool, the cutting tool including a mounting opening formed in a center thereof and attached to the spindle, and a cutting edge formed on an outer periphery of the mounting opening; and a cutting tool container mounting unit on which the cutting tool container is mounted, the cutting tool container including: a cylinder body for housing two or more cutting tools in an overlapping manner; and a rod inserted into the mounting opening to prevent the cutting blade from contacting the inner wall of the cylinder, wherein the control unit selects the cutting tool required by the cutting device appropriately and conveys the cutting tool to the cutting device by the conveying unit, so that the cutting tool can be stored sufficiently and replaced, and the cutting tool can be provided appropriately to the cutting device having the tool replacing unit, so that the cutting device can be operated without a person for a long time.

A cutting tool container according to another aspect of the present invention is a cutting tool container for containing a cutting tool including a mounting hole formed in a center thereof and attached to a spindle, and a cutting edge formed on an outer periphery of the mounting hole, the cutting tool container including: a cylinder body for housing two or more cutting tools in an overlapping manner; and a rod inserted into the mounting opening to prevent the cutting edge from contacting the inner wall of the cylinder, so that the cutting tool container containing a plurality of cutting tools can be used as a part of the cutting tool storage box, and thus the cutting tool supply device can be easily supplemented with the cutting tools.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting tool supply device and a plurality of cutting devices.

Fig. 2 is an internal perspective view of the cutting tool storage box shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which a cutting tool is accommodated in the cutting tool case shown in fig. 2, (b) of fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a plurality of cutting tools are accommodated in the cutting tool case, (c) of fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cutting tool case shown with a cylinder and a cover wall omitted from the state of fig. 3 (b), and (d) of fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which one end portion of the cylinder is closed by the cover wall.

Fig. 4 (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which a cutting tool is accommodated in a rod of a cutting tool case of a modification, fig. 4 (b) is a perspective view showing a state in which a cylindrical body is attached after the cutting tool is accommodated in the rod of the cutting tool case of the modification, and fig. 4 (c) is a perspective view showing a state in which the cylindrical body and a cover wall are attached to the rod and the end wall in which the cutting tool is accommodated from the state shown in fig. 4 (b).

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cutting tool storage box and the carrying unit shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the interface unit and the cutting device.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a portion of the spindle assembly shown in fig. 6.

Description of the reference symbols

2: a cutting tool supply device; 4: a cutting tool storage bin; 6: a conveying unit; 8: a handover unit; 14: a display unit; 16: a cutting tool container; 18: a cutting tool container mounting unit; 20: a barrel; 22: a rod; 24: a cover wall; 26: an end wall; 28: a carrying-out section; 30: a conveyor belt; 40: carrying out the machine; 42: a tool holder; 100: a cutting device; 102: a holding unit; 104: a cutting unit; 106: a feeding unit; 108: a tool replacing unit; 128: a main shaft; b: a cutting tool; o: an installation port; k: and (4) cutting edges.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the cutting tool supply device and the cutting tool container will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in fig. 1, three cutting devices 100, in which a cutting tool supply device 2 and a cutting tool supplied from the cutting tool supply device 2 are provided, are arranged along the Y direction indicated by the arrow Y in fig. 1. The cutting tool supply device 2 includes: a cutting tool storage box 4 (see fig. 1) that stores a plurality of cutting tools; a conveying unit 6 (see fig. 5) that conveys the cutting tools out of the cutting tool storage box 4 to the cutting apparatus 100; a delivery unit 8 (see fig. 6) that delivers the cutting tool conveyed by the conveying unit 6 to a tool changer 108 (described later) of the cutting apparatus 100; and a control unit (not shown). In addition, the X direction indicated by the arrow X in fig. 1 is a direction perpendicular to the Y direction, and a plane defined by the X direction and the Y direction is substantially horizontal. In the present description, in fig. 1, the direction indicated by the arrow in the X direction is described as the front, and the opposite direction is described as the rear.

Referring to fig. 1 to 4, a cutting tool storage box 4 will be described. As shown in fig. 1, the cutting tool storage box 4 includes a rectangular parallelepiped housing 10 capable of storing a plurality of cutting tools therein. A left and right half-open door 12 is attached to a front surface of the housing 10, handles 12a are attached to both the left and right half-open doors 12, and an operator opens the doors 12 to store cutting tools inside the housing 10. A display unit 14 is mounted on the upper surface of the housing 10, and displays the number of cutting tools that can be stored in the cutting tool stocker 4 and the number of cutting tools already stored in the cutting tool stocker 4 for each type of cutting tool. As shown in fig. 2, a cutting tool container 16 and a cutting tool container placement unit 18 are provided inside the housing 10, the cutting tool container 16 accommodates an annular cutting tool B, the annular cutting tool B includes a mounting opening O formed in the center thereof and attached to a spindle 128, which will be described later, of the cutting device 100, and a cutting edge K formed on the outer periphery of the mounting opening O, and the cutting tool container placement unit 18 places the cutting tool container 16. The cutting tool container 16 includes at least: a cylindrical barrel 20 that accommodates two or more cutting tools B in an overlapping manner; and a cylindrical rod 22 inserted into the mounting opening O of the cutting tool B and preventing the peripheral edge of the cutting edge K from contacting the inner wall of the cylinder 20. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the cutting tool case 16 includes: a disk-shaped cover wall 24 that detachably closes one end (upper end in fig. 3) of the cylinder 20; and a disk-shaped end wall 26 that closes the other end (lower end in fig. 3) of the cylinder 20, and the rod 22 is fixed to the center of the end wall 26. As shown in fig. 3, the other end of the cylindrical body 20 and the peripheral edge of the end wall 26 may be fixed, or as shown in fig. 4, the other end of the cylindrical body 20 and the peripheral edge of the end wall 26 may be configured to be detachable. In the modification of the cutting tool case 16 shown in fig. 4, a cover wall 24 is fixed to one end of the cylindrical body 20. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, an engaged recess 22a is formed in an axial end surface of the lever 22, and an engaging protrusion 24a that engages with the engaged recess 22a is formed on one surface of the cover wall 24. The engaging projection 24a is engaged with the engaged recess 22a, so that the cover wall 24 is detachably attached to the rod 22, and one end of the cylindrical body 20 is closed by the cover wall 24. The cutting tool container mounting unit 18 in the illustrated embodiment includes a mounting plate 27 extending in the Y direction. Three circular placing recesses 27a recessed downward are formed on the upper surface of the placing plate 27 at intervals in the Y direction. The diameter of the mounting recess 27a corresponds to the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 20 of the cutting tool case 16. The cutting tool containers 16 containing the cutting tools B for each type of cutting tool B are placed on the placement recesses 27 a. The rear surface of the frame 10 is open, and the cutting tools B stored in the cutting tool containers 16 can be carried out from the open rear surface of the frame 10 by the carrying unit 6.

The conveyance unit 6 will be described with reference to fig. 1 and 5. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the conveyance unit 6 includes at least: a carrying-out section 28 for carrying out the cutting tool B from the cutting tool storage box 4; and a conveyor 30 that conveys the cutting tool B carried out by the carrying-out section 28 to the cutting apparatus 100. The carrying-out section 28 includes: a support column 32 extending in the up-down direction adjacent to the cutting tool case 16; and a motor 34 fixed to a lower end of the strut 32. The support column 32 is rotated about an axis extending in the vertical direction by a motor 34. A base end portion of an arm 35 is fixed to an upper end of the support column 32, and the arm 35 extends substantially horizontally. An annular suction piece 37 is fixed to the distal end of the arm 35 and connected to the arm so as to be movable up and down by a lifting mechanism 36. The lifting mechanism 36 includes: a housing 38 fixed to the front end of the arm 35; a pinion gear (not shown) provided inside the housing 38; a motor (not shown) that rotates the pinion gear; and a rack 39 engaged with the pinion. When the pinion is rotated by the motor, the rack 39 extending in the vertical direction moves up and down, and the suction piece 37 connected to the lower end of the rack 39 moves up and down. The suction sheet 37 having a plurality of suction holes (not shown) formed in the lower surface thereof is connected to a suction unit (not shown) through a flow path. In the carry-out section 28, the suction force is generated on the lower surface of the suction sheet 37 by the suction unit, so that the cutting tool B stored in the cutting tool container 16 can be sucked and held by the suction sheet 37, and the cutting tool B sucked by the suction sheet 37 can be carried out of the cutting tool container 16 of the cutting tool storage box 4 and conveyed to the conveyor 30 by driving the elevating mechanism 36 and the motor 34. The number of the carry-out portions 28 may be the same as the number of the cutting tool containers 16 of the cutting tool magazine 4. Alternatively, in a case where the suction pieces 37 can be positioned at the upper end portions of the plurality of cutting tool containers 16 (for example, in a case where the arm 35 is configured to be extendable and retractable in the horizontal direction, and the carrying-out portion 28 includes an extension and retraction unit that extends and retracts the arm 35), the number of the carrying-out portions 28 may be smaller than the number of the cutting tool containers 16. As shown in fig. 1, the conveyor 30 extends from the rear of the carry-out section 28 to the rear of the cutting device 100 farthest from the cutting tool storage box 4 in the Y direction. The conveyor 30 receives the cutting tool B carried out by the carrying-out section 28, and selectively conveys the cutting tool B to the rear of the three cutting devices 100.

The handover unit 8 will be described with reference to fig. 6. The interface unit 8 in the illustrated embodiment includes at least: a carrying-out device 40 that holds and carries out the cutting tool B carried by the carrying unit 6; and a tool rack 42 that receives the cutting tool B carried out by the carrier 40 and conveys the cutting tool B to the tool changer 108 of the cutting apparatus 100. The unloading device 40 includes a housing 44 disposed behind the cutting device 100 with the conveyor 30 of the conveying unit 6 therebetween. An L-shaped opening 44a is formed in a front surface (a surface on the near side in fig. 6) of the housing 44, and an arm 46 protruding in the X direction through the L-shaped opening 44a is supported by the housing 44 to be rotatable about an axis extending in the X direction, movable in the Y direction, and liftable. Further, in the housing 44, there are provided: a rotating unit (not shown) that rotates the arm 46 around an axis extending in the X direction; a Y-direction moving unit (not shown) that moves the arm 46 in the Y direction along a portion of the L-shaped opening 44a extending in the Y direction; and a lifting unit (not shown) for lifting and lowering the arm 46 along a portion of the L-shaped opening 44a extending in the vertical direction. The rotation unit may comprise a motor coupled to the arm 46. The Y-direction moving unit may include, for example: a ball screw extending in the Y direction, a nut portion of which is connected to the arm 46 via a rotating unit; and a motor coupled to the ball screw. The lifting unit may include, for example: a ball screw extending in the vertical direction, a nut portion of which is connected to the arm 46 via a rotating means and a Y-direction moving means; and a motor coupled to the ball screw. As shown in fig. 6, a columnar suction piece 48 is fixed to the tip end of the arm 46. The suction sheet 48 having a plurality of suction holes (not shown) formed in one end surface (lower surface in fig. 6) in the axial direction is connected to a suction unit (not shown) through a flow path. In the carrying-out device 40, the suction force is generated on the lower surface of the suction piece 48 by the suction means, so that the cutting tool B conveyed by the conveyor belt 30 of the conveying means 6 can be sucked and held by the suction piece 48, and the cutting tool B sucked by the suction piece 48 can be carried out from the conveyor belt 30 by moving and rotating the arm 46 by the lifting means, the Y-direction moving means, and the rotating means.

The description of the handover unit 8 is continued with reference to fig. 6. The tool rack 42 of the interface unit 8 includes: a guide member 50 adjacent to the carrying-out device 40 and extending in the X direction from above the conveyor 30 to a position facing the tool changer 108 of the cutting apparatus 100; a rectangular parallelepiped movable piece 52 mounted on the guide member 50 to be movable in the X direction; and an X-direction moving unit 54 that moves the movable piece 52 in the X direction. A guide opening 50a extending in the X direction is formed on the upper surface of the guide member 50. The X-direction moving unit 54 includes: a ball screw (not shown) extending in the X direction inside the guide member 50; and a motor 56 coupled to the ball screw, wherein the X-direction moving unit 54 moves the movable piece 52 in the X direction along the guide opening 50a of the guide member 50. As shown in fig. 6, a pair of columnar support shafts 58 protruding in the Y direction are attached to one end surface of the movable piece 52 in the Y direction. The diameter of the support shaft 58 corresponds to the inner diameter of the cutting tool B, and the mounting port O of the cutting tool B is fitted to the support shaft 58 by the removal device 40, so that the cutting tool B is supported by the support shaft 58 of the movable piece 52. In the tool holder 42, the movable piece 52 is moved in the X direction by the X-direction moving unit 54, and the cutting tool B supported by the support shaft 58 of the movable piece 52 can be conveyed to a position where it can be delivered to the tool changer 108 of the cutting apparatus 100. Further, a plurality of suction holes (not shown) are formed in the surface of the movable piece 52 on the support shaft 58 side, and the suction holes of the movable piece 52 are connected to a suction unit (not shown) through a flow path. Further, the cutting tool B supported by the support shaft 58 can be sucked and held by the suction means generating a suction force on one end surface of the movable piece 52 in the Y direction, and thus the cutting tool B can be prevented from falling from the support shaft 58 when the movable piece 52 moves in the X direction. In fig. 6, for convenience of explanation, only one delivery unit 8 is shown, but the cutting apparatus 100 shown as described below includes a pair of cutting units 104 and a pair of tool exchange units 108, and the pair of delivery units 8 are provided behind the cutting units 104 in accordance with the number of the cutting units 104 and the number of the tool exchange units 108. That is, in the illustrated embodiment, since three cutting apparatuses 100 are provided, a total of six delivery units 8 are provided.

The control unit of the cutting tool supply apparatus 2 constituted by a computer includes: a Central Processing Unit (CPU) that performs arithmetic processing in accordance with a control program; a Read Only Memory (ROM) that stores a control program and the like; and a readable and writable Random Access Memory (RAM) capable of storing an operation result and the like. The control unit is electrically connected to the conveying unit 6, the delivery unit 8, and the display unit 14, and controls the operations of the conveying unit 6 and the delivery unit 8 by appropriately selecting the cutting tool B required by the cutting apparatus 100, conveying the cutting tool B from the cutting tool magazine 4 to the rear of the cutting apparatus 100 by the conveying unit 6, and delivering the cutting tool B from the conveying unit 6 to the tool changer 108 of the cutting apparatus 100 by the delivery unit 8. Since the cutting tools B are stored in the cutting tool containers 16 for each type, the control unit records the number of the cutting tools B to be removed for each cutting tool container 16, records the number of the cutting tools B to be removed from the cutting tool stocker 4 for each type of the cutting tools B, calculates the number of the cutting tools B that can be stored in the cutting tool stocker 4 and the number of the cutting tools B already stored in the cutting tool stocker 4 for each type of the cutting tools B, and displays the calculated numbers on the display unit 14. When the number of cutting tools B stored in the cutting tool stocker 4 is less than a predetermined amount, the display unit 14 may display the content to prompt the operator to replenish the cutting tools B.

Here, a description will be given of the cutting apparatus 100 that provides the cutting tool B by the cutting tool providing apparatus 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the three cutting devices 100 provided may have the same configuration, and as shown in fig. 6, they include: a holding means 102 for holding a workpiece; a cutting unit 104 to which a cutting tool B for cutting the workpiece held by the holding unit 102 is rotatably attached; a feeding unit 106 that relatively machine-feeds the holding unit 102 and the cutting unit 104; and a tool changer 108 for automatically attaching and detaching the cutting tool B attached to the cutting unit 104.

As shown in fig. 6, the holding unit 102 includes: a movable plate 112 mounted on the base 110 of the cutting apparatus 100 to be movable in the X direction; a support column 114 fixed to an upper surface of the movable plate 112; and a chuck table 116 rotatably mounted on an upper end of the support column 114. The chuck table 116 configured to suck a workpiece such as a wafer on the upper surface is rotated about an axis extending in the vertical direction by a motor (not shown) incorporated in the support column 114.

The cutting unit 104 is explained with reference to fig. 6 and 7. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, a pair of cutting units 104 are attached to a gate-shaped support frame 118 disposed astride the holding unit 102. Each cutting unit 104 has: a spindle unit 120 supported by the support frame 118 to be movable in the Y direction and vertically movable; an index feeding unit 122 that moves the spindle assembly 120 in the Y direction; and a cutting and feeding unit 124 that raises and lowers the spindle assembly 120. As shown in fig. 7, the spindle assembly 120 includes: a cylindrical spindle 128 supported by the spindle housing 126 to be rotatable about an axis extending in the Y direction; a motor (not shown) that rotates the main shaft 128; a cutting tool B detachably fixed to a distal end portion of the spindle 128; and a nut 130 for fixing the cutting tool B to the tip of the spindle 128. Further, a cutting tool monitoring unit (not shown) is attached to the cutting unit 104, and monitors the degree and presence/absence of wear of the cutting edge K of the cutting tool B. As shown in fig. 6, a moving unit 134 is attached to the support frame 118, and the moving unit 132 is configured to move in the Y direction while supporting the imaging unit 132 to be movable in the Y direction, and the imaging unit 132 is configured to image the workpiece held by the chuck table 116 and detect a region to be cut.

As shown in fig. 6, the feeding unit 106 includes, on the base 110: a ball screw 138 extending in the X direction; and a motor 140 coupled to the ball screw 138. The ball screw 138 is coupled to the movable plate 112 of the holding unit 102. The feeding unit 106 converts the rotational motion of the motor 140 into linear motion by the ball screw 138 and transmits the linear motion to the movable plate 112, thereby feeding the holding unit 102 in the X direction with respect to the cutting unit 104.

The tool replacement unit 108 includes: a nut attaching and detaching mechanism 142 for attaching and detaching the nut 130 to and from the main shaft 128 of the cutting unit 104; a tool mounting/dismounting mechanism 144 for mounting/dismounting the cutting tool B to/from the main shaft 128; and a position adjusting means 146 for adjusting the X-direction position and the Y-direction position of the nut attachment/detachment mechanism 142 and the tool attachment/detachment mechanism 144. The nut attachment/detachment mechanism 142 can unscrew the nut 130 fixed to the main shaft 128, remove the nut 130 from the main shaft 128, and grip the nut 130 removed from the main shaft 128. The tool mounting/dismounting mechanism 144 includes a pair of tool gripping units 148 arranged with a gap therebetween. In the tool attachment/detachment mechanism 144, the cutting tool B is extracted from the spindle 128 from which the nut 130 has been removed by one of the pair of tool gripping units 148, and the replacement cutting tool B to be attached to the spindle 128 is gripped by the other of the pair of tool gripping units 148 and attached to the spindle 128. The nut attaching and detaching mechanism 142 and the tool attaching and detaching mechanism 144 are respectively disposed in a pair in axial symmetry with a space in the Y direction in correspondence with the pair of cutting units 104. The specific configuration of the tool changer 108 may be substantially the same as the configuration disclosed in patent document 1.

The cutting apparatus 100 further includes a controller (not shown) that controls its own work and determines whether or not the cutting tool B needs to be replaced based on information output from the cutting tool monitoring unit. Each controller constituted by a computer is electrically connected to the holding unit 102, the cutting unit 104, the feeding unit 106, the tool replacing unit 108, the cutting tool monitoring unit, and the control unit of the cutting tool supply apparatus 2. In addition, as shown in fig. 1, the cutting apparatus 100 is provided with: a cleaning unit 150 for cleaning the workpiece after the cutting process; a cassette 152 for accommodating a workpiece; a conveyance mechanism 154 for conveying the workpiece among the cleaning unit 150, the cassette 152, and the chuck table 116; and an input unit 156 for inputting processing conditions and the like to the controller.

The operation of the cutting tool supply apparatus 2 as described above will be described. When the cutting tool B attached to the cutting apparatus 100 needs to be replaced due to wear or a defect, information on the type of the cutting tool B that needs to be replaced, information on which of the pair of cutting units 104 the cutting tool B that needs to be replaced is currently attached, and an instruction to provide the cutting tool B are input to the control unit of the cutting tool providing apparatus 2 from the controller of the cutting apparatus 100 that needs to replace the cutting tool B. Then, the control unit of the cutting tool supply apparatus 2 selects the cutting tool container 16 storing the cutting tool bin 4 storing the cutting tool B to be supplied to the cutting apparatus 100, based on information output from the controller of the cutting apparatus 100. Further, the controller of the cutting apparatus 100 performs control as follows: the nut 130 is removed from the main shaft 128 by the nut removing and attaching mechanism 142 of the tool replacing unit 108, and the cutting tool B is removed from the main shaft 128 by one of the tool gripping units 148 of the tool removing and attaching mechanism 144.

Next, the control unit performs control as follows: the replacement cutting tool B is carried out from the cutting tool container 16 storing the replacement cutting tool B (hereinafter referred to as "replacement cutting tool B") to be newly mounted on the cutting unit 104 by the carrying-out section 28 of the conveying unit 6, and is placed on the conveyor 30. As described in detail with reference to fig. 5, first, the support column 32 is rotated by the motor 34 of the carry-out section 28, and the suction piece 37 is positioned above the cutting tool container 16 in which the replacement cutting tool B is stored. Next, the lifting mechanism 36 lowers the suction piece 37, and the lower surface of the suction piece 37 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the replacement cutting tool B. Next, the suction unit connected to the suction sheet 37 is operated to generate a suction force on the lower surface of the suction sheet 37, and the lower surface of the suction sheet 37 is sucked to the upper surface of the replacement cutting tool B. Subsequently, the lifting mechanism 36 lifts the suction sheet 37. Next, the support column 32 is rotated by the motor 34, and the replacement cutting tool B sucked by the suction piece 37 is positioned above the conveyor belt 30. Next, the lifting mechanism 36 lowers the suction sheet 37, and the lower surface of the replacement cutting tool B is brought into contact with the upper surface of the conveyor belt 30. Then, the suction force of the suction sheet 37 is released by stopping the operation of the suction unit connected to the suction sheet 37, and the cutting tool B for replacement is placed on the upper surface of the conveyor belt 30. In this way, the control unit carries the replacement cutting tool B out of the cutting tool container 16 via the carrying-out portion 28, and places the replacement cutting tool B on the conveyor 30.

Next, the control unit conveys the cutting tool B by the conveyor 30 to a position where the replacement cutting tool B can be delivered to the delivery unit 8 disposed behind the cutting unit 104 for which the cutting tool B needs to be replaced.

Next, the control unit performs control as follows: the replacement cutting tool B conveyed by the conveyor 30 is carried out by the carrying-out device 40 of the delivery unit 8 and delivered to the tool rest 42. To describe in detail, first, the arm 46 is lowered by the lifting and lowering unit of the carrying-out machine 40, and the lower surface of the suction piece 48 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the replacement cutting tool B. Next, the suction unit connected to the suction sheet 48 is operated to generate a suction force on the lower surface of the suction sheet 48, and the lower surface of the suction sheet 48 is sucked to the upper surface of the replacement cutting tool B. Next, the arm 46 is raised by the raising and lowering means, and the arm 46 is rotated by the rotating means, so that the replacement cutting tool B sucked by the suction piece 48 faces the movable piece 52 of the tool holder 42. At this time, the position of the movable piece 52 is adjusted by the X-direction moving unit 54 so that the support shaft 58 of one of the movable pieces 52 matches the mounting port O of the replacement cutting tool B when viewed from the Y direction. Next, the arm 46 is moved in the Y direction by the Y-direction moving means, and the replacement cutting tool B is fitted to one support shaft 58 of the movable piece 52. Next, the suction unit connected to the suction piece 48 of the carrying-out machine 40 is stopped from operating to release the suction force of the suction piece 48 of the carrying-out machine 40, and the suction unit connected to the movable piece 52 of the tool holder 42 is operated to generate a suction force on the end surface of the movable piece 52 on the support shaft 58 side, thereby sucking the replacement cutting tool B on the end surface of the movable piece 52 on the support shaft 58 side. As a result, the replacement cutting tool B conveyed by the conveyor 30 is carried out by the carrying-out device 40 of the delivery unit 8 and delivered to the tool rest 42.

Next, the control unit moves the movable piece 52 by the X-direction moving unit 54 of the tool holder 42 to a position where the replacement cutting tool B held by the movable piece 52 faces the tool replacement unit 108 of the cutting apparatus 100. Next, the control unit stops the operation of the suction unit connected to the movable piece 52 to release the suction force of the movable piece 52. Next, the cutting tool B for replacement is carried out from the one support shaft 58 of the movable piece 52 by the other tool gripping unit 148 of the tool attachment/detachment mechanism 144 (the one tool gripping unit 148 that does not grip the cutting tool B removed from the cutting unit 104), and the cutting tool B attached to the cutting unit 104 is transferred from the one tool gripping unit 148 to the other support shaft 58 of the movable piece 52. The replacement cutting tool B is attached to the cutting unit 104 by the tool replacement unit 108. On the other hand, the cutting tool B removed from the cutting unit 104 is conveyed to the cutting tool stocker 4 in a reverse path to the cutting tool B for replacement. That is, the removed cutting tool B is conveyed by the tool rack 42, then carried by the conveyor 30 of the conveying unit 6 by the carrying-out device 40, and then conveyed to the inside of the housing 10 of the cutting tool storage box 4 by the carrying-out section 28 of the conveying unit 6. The cutting tools B conveyed to the housing 10 are stored for a predetermined period of time in each cutting unit 104, and when a failure occurs in the cutting apparatus 100, reference is made to the cause of the failure.

In the cutting tool supply apparatus 2 as described above, since the cutting tool B that can be replaced can be sufficiently stored in the cutting tool stocker 4 and the cutting tool B can be appropriately supplied to the cutting apparatus 100 having the tool replacing unit 108 by the conveying unit 6 and the delivery unit 8, it is possible to perform unmanned operation of the cutting apparatus 100 for a long time.

Further, since the cutting tool magazine 16 can be used as a part of the cutting tool magazine 4, when the cutting tools B are replenished to the cutting tool magazine 4, it is not necessary to replenish the cutting tools B one by one, and the cutting tool magazine 16 storing a plurality of cutting tools B is mounted on the cutting tool magazine mounting unit 18 together with the cutting tool magazine 16, so that the cutting tool supply apparatus 2 can be easily replenished with the cutting tools B.

Claims

1. A cutting tool supply apparatus supplies a cutting tool to a cutting apparatus,

the cutting device includes:

a holding unit for holding a workpiece;

a cutting unit to which a cutting tool for cutting the workpiece held by the holding unit is rotatably attached;

a feeding unit that relatively performs machining feed of the holding unit and the cutting unit; and

a tool replacing unit for automatically attaching and detaching the cutting tool attached to the cutting unit,

the cutting tool providing device is separated from the cutting device,

wherein,

the cutting tool supply device includes:

a cutting tool storage box storing a plurality of cutting tools;

a conveying unit for conveying the cutting tool out of the cutting tool storage box and conveying the cutting tool to the cutting device;

a delivery unit that delivers the cutting tool conveyed by the conveyance unit to the tool replacement unit; and

a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit,

the cutting tool storage case includes:

a cutting tool container for accommodating a cutting tool, the cutting tool including a mounting opening formed in a center thereof and attached to the spindle, and a cutting edge formed on an outer periphery of the mounting opening; and

a cutting tool container mounting unit for mounting the cutting tool container,

the cutting tool container comprises:

a cylinder body for housing two or more cutting tools in an overlapping manner; and

a rod inserted into the mounting opening to prevent the cutting edge from contacting the inner wall of the cylinder,

the conveying unit includes:

a carrying-out section for carrying out the cutting tool from the cutting tool storage box; and

a conveyor belt for conveying the cutting tool carried out by the carrying-out section to the cutting device,

the control unit properly selects the cutting tool required by the cutting device and conveys the cutting tool to the cutting device through the conveying unit.

2. The cutting tool providing apparatus according to claim 1,

the handover unit includes:

a carrying-out device for holding and carrying out the cutting tool carried by the carrying unit; and

and a tool rack that receives the cutting tool carried out by the carrying-out machine and conveys the cutting tool to the tool changer.

3. The cutting tool providing apparatus according to claim 1,

the cutting tool providing apparatus further comprises a display unit,

the control unit records the number of cutting tools removed from the cutting tool storage box according to each type of cutting tool, and displays the number of cutting tools that can be further stored in the cutting tool storage box on the display unit according to each type of cutting tool.

4. The cutting tool providing apparatus according to claim 1,

the cutting tool container comprises:

a cover wall that detachably closes one end of the cylinder; and

an end wall which closes the other end of the cylinder,

the rod is fixed to a central portion of the end wall.